Timeline | Inception of the Diversity Statement

• Early 2000s in the UC system
• Early 2010s Widely adopted by universities for faculty positions
• Mid 2010s Called into question by creating the false dichotomy of DEI v Merit- based hiring
• 2018 UC system made the statements mandatory for tenure-track position applications

Timeline | Current State of the Statement - 2020 Near complete adoption of the practice allegedly in response to the murder of George Floyd - 2022 UW rejected making the statement a requirement for tenure-track applications - 2023 Banned in public institutions in Texas, North Carolina and Missouri - 2025 it is often a requirement in non-tenure track applications, often optional

Purpose - Academic search committees can gauge a candidate’s ‘fit’ with the institution/ student body - Documentation method to include the unpaid labor and often overlooked work of non-majority candidates

It is - Fundamental demonstration of your values, commitments and capabilities in an academic position - Three areas of demonstration - the core of the academic position - Research - Teaching - Service - Another opportunity to stand out

It is not - About you - Your identities - Your privileges - Not a chance to medal in the Oppression Olympics - Not a savior narrative, nor a - Pie in the Sky - We are the World - Ideological pontification

How does it fit in your application package? - Teaching Statement highlights your - Philosophy in practice - Qualifications - Future contributions - Research Statement highlights your - Direction and purpose of scientific inquiry - Funding capabilities - Collaborative potential and broader field contributions

How does it fit in your application package?

Why? - Demonstrate your alignment with the institution’s mission, vision & values (MVV) - Opportunity to expand on what you’ve written in your teaching & research statements - Showcases your understanding of ‘DEI’ beyond visible diversity - Thematically present yourself as the complete package by weaving your narrative across all 3 statements

Preparation | Things You’ll Need 1) Institution’s MVV 2) Writing Tool/ Laptop 3) Your CV

Process
Step 2 of 5: Reflection 1) Identity/ Privilege Wheel inventory 2) Values + Teaching Philosophy Alignment 3) Knowledge of current research in pedagogy/ research/ student engagement

Process
Step 3 of 5: Run the Stats 1) List SPECIFIC activities you’ve created/ participated in 2) List SPECIFIC organizations you’ve created/ participated in 3) List SPECIFIC teaching tactics/ strategies you’ve employed 4) List SPECIFIC research process accommodations/ protocols/ etc. that you’ve created

Process
Step 4 of 5: Synthesis 1) What is sticking out to you? 2) Are you balanced across the 3 areas (research, teaching, service) 3) How are you feeling?

Process
Step 5 of 5: Drafting the Statement - Framing here is key - Reinforce how you and your work align with the institution’s MVV - Hook your reader - personal anecdote - Tell a cohesive story with specific examples

Pitfalls to Avoid - Over-sharing your personal story - Over-sanitizing your statement is a red flag - Self depreciation due to your privilege or - Trauma dumping to prove you’ve ‘earned it’

Pitfalls to Avoid - False equivalencies - hyperbole and rhetoric are not useful tools here - Lack of specificity - theory is just an unpracticed thought in this regard - Trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents - don’t oversell or inflate your experiences

Tips for Writing & Editing - Remember: “Diversity statements are fundamentally about your values, commitments, and capabilities, and the ways it shapes your work.” - Limited experience does not make you a terrible educator, just a new one. - Demonstrate what you’ve learned and how you can implement it. - Don’t let your beliefs around the facts to supersede the facts themselves - Writing a positionality statement first

Tips for Writing & Editing - Storyboarding or concept mapping your package makes this easier to visualize - Updating your CV before beginning - Tailor it to the institution and position - Don’t waste space repeating yourself - Get another set of eyes on that joint!

Wrapping it up

• Remember, it is not who you are, but what you can do
• Specificity, specificity, specificity!
• Connect this statement to your teaching and research statements for maximum impact

Resources